Method and system for energy distribution in a vehicle

Abstract

An energy distribution system for an electric or hybrid vehicle includes battery connected to a vehicle propulsion system and to at least one auxiliary load; a power distribution control unit connected to the battery and configured to distribute power from the battery to the vehicle propulsion system and to the at least one auxiliary load. The power distribution control unit receives a request for power from the vehicle propulsion system; determines that the state of health of the battery is below a predetermined first state of health threshold value; and controls the energy distribution system to provide a power to the propulsion system lower than the requested power.

1 . An energy distribution system for an electric or hybrid vehicle, the energy distribution system comprising:
 a battery connected to a vehicle propulsion system and to at least one auxiliary load;   a power distribution control unit connected to the battery and configured to distribute power from the battery to the vehicle propulsion system and to the at least one auxiliary load, the power distribution control unit being further configured to:   receive a request for power from the vehicle propulsion system;   determine that the state of health of the battery is below a predetermined first state of health threshold value; and   control the energy distribution system to provide a power to the propulsion system lower than the requested power.   
     
     
         2 . The energy distribution system according to  claim 1 , wherein the power distribution control unit is configured to control the energy distribution system to provide a power to the propulsion system corresponding to the requested power reduced by a first predetermined power reduction factor. 
     
     
         3 . The energy distribution system according to  claim 1 , wherein the power distribution control unit is configured to:
 determine that the state of health of the battery is below a predetermined second state of health threshold value, the second state of health threshold value being lower than the first state of health threshold value; and   control the energy distribution system to provide a power to the propulsion system corresponding to the requested power reduced by a second predetermined power reduction factor.   
     
     
         4 . The energy distribution system according to  claim 3 , wherein the predetermined second state of health threshold value is in the range of 65% to 75%. 
     
     
         5 . The energy distribution system according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined first state of health threshold value is in the range of 75% to 85%. 
     
     
         6 . The energy distribution system according to  claim 1 , wherein the power distribution control unit is configured to control the energy distribution system to provide a power to an auxiliary load lower than a power requested by the auxiliary load. 
     
     
         7 . The energy distribution system according to  claim 1 , wherein the power distribution control unit is configured to control the energy distribution system to provide a power to the propulsion system corresponding to 85% to 99% of the requested power. 
     
     
         8 . The energy distribution system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a battery temperature sensor configured to determine a temperature of at least one battery cell in the battery and a battery cooling system arranged to cool the at least one battery cell. 
     
     
         9 . The energy distribution system according to  claim 8 , wherein the power distribution control unit is configured to:
 determine that a temperature of a battery cell is above a predetermined battery temperature threshold value; and   provide a requested power to the battery cooling system to reduce the temperature of the at least one battery cell to a temperature below the predetermined battery temperature threshold value.   
     
     
         10 . The energy distribution system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one auxiliary load is selected from the group comprising: a vehicle safety system, a propulsion system thermal management system, an electric steering system, a cabin thermal management system, and a refrigeration system. 
     
     
         11 . A vehicle comprising the energy distribution system according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . Method for energy distribution in an electric or hybrid vehicle, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a power distribution control unit, a request for power from the vehicle propulsion system;   determining, by the power distribution control unit, that the state of health of the battery is below a predetermined first state of health threshold value; and   controlling, by the power distribution control unit, an energy distribution system to provide a power to the propulsion system lower than the requested power.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising, by the power distribution control unit, controlling the energy distribution system to provide a power to the propulsion system corresponding to the requested power reduced by a first predetermined power reduction factor. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising, by the power distribution control unit,
 determining that the state of health of the battery is below a predetermined second state of health threshold value, the second state of health threshold value being lower than the first state of health threshold value; and   controlling the energy distribution system to provide a power to the propulsion system corresponding to the requested power reduced by a second predetermined power reduction factor.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined first state of health threshold value is in the range of 75% to 85% and the predetermined second state of health threshold value is in the range of 65% to 75%. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising, by the power distribution control unit, controlling the energy distribution system to provide a power to an auxiliary load lower than a power requested by the auxiliary load. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising, by the power distribution control unit, controlling the energy distribution system to provide a power to the propulsion system corresponding to 85% to 99% of the requested power. 
     
     
         18 . A computer program product comprising program code for performing, when executed by the processor device, the method of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         19 . A control system comprising one or more control units configured to perform the method of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed by the processor device, cause the processor device to perform the method of  claim 12 .